Freedom Hall rocking as tipoff nears

January 17, 2009by

Louisville has hosted a lot of big games in the past, but Pitt’s trip to Freedom Hall ranks among the most significant. It marks only the fifth time in the past 55 years that Louisville has hosted a No. 1 team. The Cardinals are 1-3 in those marquee games.

The most recent top-ranked team to visit Louisville, the Florida Gators, fell to the Cardinals, 73-65, on Dec. 13, 2003.

Before that, you have to go all the way back to a 73-67 victory over Seton Hall in March, 1953, for a Louisville victory over a No. 1 team.

About 15 minutes before tip off, the atmosphere is electric. Former Louisville stars Scooter and Rodney McCray are on hand, signing autographs for some of the 19,000-plus fans expected to cram the building.

As mentioned in today’s Trib, the 1983 Louisville Final Four team will be honored at halftime. Coach Denny Crum as well as the McCray brothers will be on hand.